kuli

See also: Appendix:Variations of "kuli"

Languages (20)

English

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Äiwoo • Atong (India) • Bola • Cebuano • Czech • Drehu • Fijian • Finnish • Hawaiian • Hungarian • Indonesian • Ingrian • Lindu • Ngarrindjeri • Polish • Slovak • Sranan Tongo • Swahili • Wolio

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Page categories

English

Noun

kuli (plural kulis)

1. Archaic spelling of coolie.

See also

• kuli-kuli (etymologically unrelated)

Äiwoo

Etymology

Probably a Polynesian borrowing.

Noun

kuli

1. dog

References

• Ross, M. & Næss, Å. (2007), “An Oceanic origin for Äiwoo, the language of the Reef Islands?”, in Oceanic Linguistics, volume 46, number 2. Cited in: "Äiwoo" in Greenhill, S.J., Blust, R., & Gray, R.D. (2008). The Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database: From Bioinformatics to Lexomics. Evolutionary Bioinformatics, 4:271–283.

Atong (India)

Alternative forms

• khuli

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kuli/

Verb

kuli- (Bengali script কুলি)

1. to open

References

• van Breugel, Seino. 2015. Atong-English dictionary, second edition. Available online: https://www.academia.edu/487044/Atong_English_Dictionary.

Bola

Noun

kuli

1. skin

References

• René van den Berg and Brent Wiebe, Bola Grammar Sketch, p. 59

Cebuano

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kuˈliʔ/ [kʊˈl̪iʔ]
• Hyphenation: ku‧li

Verb

kulî (Badlit spelling ᜃᜓᜎᜒ)

1. to be senile

Derived terms

• kulianon
• kulion

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkuliʔ/ [ˈku.l̪ɪʔ]
• Hyphenation: ku‧li

Adjective

kulì (Badlit spelling ᜃᜓᜎᜒ)

1. having a hard time due to some obstacle
2. reluctant

Adverb

kulì (Badlit spelling ᜃᜓᜎᜒ)

1. reluctantly
2. seldom; rarely

Verb

kulì (Badlit spelling ᜃᜓᜎᜒ)

1. to have a hard time doing something

Derived terms

• kakulian
• makuli
• makulion

Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈkulɪ]

Etymology 1

Noun

kuli m anim

1. coolie (unskilled Asian worker)

Declension

Declension of kuli (masculine animate in -i/-y)

	singular	plural
nominative	kuli	kuliové, kuli
genitive	kuliho	kuliů, kulich
dative	kulimu	kuliům, kulim
accusative	kuliho	kulie, kuli
vocative	kuli	kuliové, kuli
locative	kulim	kuliích, kulich
instrumental	kulim	kulii, kulimi

Further reading

• “kuli”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
• “kuli”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989
• “kuli”, in Internetová jazyková příručka (in Czech), 2008–2026

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Participle

kuli

1. animate masculine plural past active participle of kout

Drehu

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kuli/

Noun

kuli

1. dog

References

• Tyron, D.T., Hackman, B. (1983), Solomon Islands languages: An internal classification. Cited in: "Dehu" in Greenhill, S.J., Blust, R., & Gray, R.D. (2008). The Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database: From Bioinformatics to Lexomics. Evolutionary Bioinformatics, 4:271–283.
• Leenhardt, M. (1946), Langues et dialectes de l'Austro-Mèlanèsie. Cited in: "ⁿDe’u" in Greenhill, S.J., Blust, R., & Gray, R.D. (2008). The Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database: From Bioinformatics to Lexomics. Evolutionary Bioinformatics, 4:271–283.

Fijian

Etymology

From Proto-Central-Pacific *kuli, from Proto-Oceanic *kulit, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kulit, from Proto-Austronesian *qaNiC.

Noun

kuli

1. skin (outer covering of the body of a person)

Finnish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkuli/, [ˈkuli]
• Rhymes: -uli
• Syllabification^(key): ku‧li
• Hyphenation^(key): ku‧li

Etymology 1

From Russian куль (kulʹ).

Noun

kuli

1. (historical) an old Russian unit of weight, used for grain and equal to 9 poods or around 147.42 kilograms

   Synonyms: matto, jauhomatto

Declension

Inflection of kuli (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)
nominative		kuli	kulit
genitive		kulin	kulien
partitive		kulia	kuleja
illative		kuliin	kuleihin
		singular	plural
nominative		kuli	kulit
accusative	nom.	kuli	kulit
	gen.	kulin
genitive		kulin	kulien
partitive		kulia	kuleja
inessive		kulissa	kuleissa
elative		kulista	kuleista
illative		kuliin	kuleihin
adessive		kulilla	kuleilla
ablative		kulilta	kuleilta
allative		kulille	kuleille
essive		kulina	kuleina
translative		kuliksi	kuleiksi
abessive		kulitta	kuleitta
instructive		—	kulein
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of kuli (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative kulini kulini accusative nom. kulini kulini gen. kulini genitive kulini kulieni partitive kuliani kulejani inessive kulissani kuleissani elative kulistani kuleistani illative kuliini kuleihini adessive kulillani kuleillani ablative kuliltani kuleiltani allative kulilleni kuleilleni essive kulinani kuleinani translative kulikseni kuleikseni abessive kulittani kuleittani instructive — — comitative — kuleineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative kulisi kulisi accusative nom. kulisi kulisi gen. kulisi genitive kulisi kuliesi partitive kuliasi kulejasi inessive kulissasi kuleissasi elative kulistasi kuleistasi illative kuliisi kuleihisi adessive kulillasi kuleillasi ablative kuliltasi kuleiltasi allative kulillesi kuleillesi essive kulinasi kuleinasi translative kuliksesi kuleiksesi abessive kulittasi kuleittasi instructive — — comitative — kuleinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative kulimme kulimme accusative nom. kulimme kulimme gen. kulimme genitive kulimme kuliemme partitive kuliamme kulejamme inessive kulissamme kuleissamme elative kulistamme kuleistamme illative kuliimme kuleihimme adessive kulillamme kuleillamme ablative kuliltamme kuleiltamme allative kulillemme kuleillemme essive kulinamme kuleinamme translative kuliksemme kuleiksemme abessive kulittamme kuleittamme instructive — — comitative — kuleinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative kulinne kulinne accusative nom. kulinne kulinne gen. kulinne genitive kulinne kulienne partitive kulianne kulejanne inessive kulissanne kuleissanne elative kulistanne kuleistanne illative kuliinne kuleihinne adessive kulillanne kuleillanne ablative kuliltanne kuleiltanne allative kulillenne kuleillenne essive kulinanne kuleinanne translative kuliksenne kuleiksenne abessive kulittanne kuleittanne instructive — — comitative — kuleinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative kulinsa kulinsa accusative nom. kulinsa kulinsa gen. kulinsa genitive kulinsa kuliensa partitive kuliaan kuliansa kulejaan kulejansa inessive kulissaan kulissansa kuleissaan kuleissansa elative kulistaan kulistansa kuleistaan kuleistansa illative kuliinsa kuleihinsa adessive kulillaan kulillansa kuleillaan kuleillansa ablative kuliltaan kuliltansa kuleiltaan kuleiltansa allative kulilleen kulillensa kuleilleen kuleillensa essive kulinaan kulinansa kuleinaan kuleinansa translative kulikseen kuliksensa kuleikseen kuleiksensa abessive kulittaan kulittansa kuleittaan kuleittansa instructive — — comitative — kuleineen kuleinensa

Etymology 2

From Hindi क़ुली (qulī), Urdu قلی.

Noun

kuli

1. coolie

Declension

Inflection of kuli (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)
nominative		kuli	kulit
genitive		kulin	kulien
partitive		kulia	kuleja
illative		kuliin	kuleihin
		singular	plural
nominative		kuli	kulit
accusative	nom.	kuli	kulit
	gen.	kulin
genitive		kulin	kulien
partitive		kulia	kuleja
inessive		kulissa	kuleissa
elative		kulista	kuleista
illative		kuliin	kuleihin
adessive		kulilla	kuleilla
ablative		kulilta	kuleilta
allative		kulille	kuleille
essive		kulina	kuleina
translative		kuliksi	kuleiksi
abessive		kulitta	kuleitta
instructive		—	kulein
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of kuli (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative kulini kulini accusative nom. kulini kulini gen. kulini genitive kulini kulieni partitive kuliani kulejani inessive kulissani kuleissani elative kulistani kuleistani illative kuliini kuleihini adessive kulillani kuleillani ablative kuliltani kuleiltani allative kulilleni kuleilleni essive kulinani kuleinani translative kulikseni kuleikseni abessive kulittani kuleittani instructive — — comitative — kuleineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative kulisi kulisi accusative nom. kulisi kulisi gen. kulisi genitive kulisi kuliesi partitive kuliasi kulejasi inessive kulissasi kuleissasi elative kulistasi kuleistasi illative kuliisi kuleihisi adessive kulillasi kuleillasi ablative kuliltasi kuleiltasi allative kulillesi kuleillesi essive kulinasi kuleinasi translative kuliksesi kuleiksesi abessive kulittasi kuleittasi instructive — — comitative — kuleinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative kulimme kulimme accusative nom. kulimme kulimme gen. kulimme genitive kulimme kuliemme partitive kuliamme kulejamme inessive kulissamme kuleissamme elative kulistamme kuleistamme illative kuliimme kuleihimme adessive kulillamme kuleillamme ablative kuliltamme kuleiltamme allative kulillemme kuleillemme essive kulinamme kuleinamme translative kuliksemme kuleiksemme abessive kulittamme kuleittamme instructive — — comitative — kuleinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative kulinne kulinne accusative nom. kulinne kulinne gen. kulinne genitive kulinne kulienne partitive kulianne kulejanne inessive kulissanne kuleissanne elative kulistanne kuleistanne illative kuliinne kuleihinne adessive kulillanne kuleillanne ablative kuliltanne kuleiltanne allative kulillenne kuleillenne essive kulinanne kuleinanne translative kuliksenne kuleiksenne abessive kulittanne kuleittanne instructive — — comitative — kuleinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative kulinsa kulinsa accusative nom. kulinsa kulinsa gen. kulinsa genitive kulinsa kuliensa partitive kuliaan kuliansa kulejaan kulejansa inessive kulissaan kulissansa kuleissaan kuleissansa elative kulistaan kulistansa kuleistaan kuleistansa illative kuliinsa kuleihinsa adessive kulillaan kulillansa kuleillaan kuleillansa ablative kuliltaan kuliltansa kuleiltaan kuleiltansa allative kulilleen kulillensa kuleilleen kuleillensa essive kulinaan kulinansa kuleinaan kuleinansa translative kulikseen kuliksensa kuleikseen kuleiksensa abessive kulittaan kulittansa kuleittaan kuleittansa instructive — — comitative — kuleineen kuleinensa

Further reading

• “kuli”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎^[2] (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 1 July 2023

Anagrams

• ilku, kilu, luki

Hawaiian

Etymology 1

From Proto-Polynesian *tuli, from Proto-Oceanic *tuli, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tuli, from Proto-Austronesian *Culi.

Verb

kuli

1. (stative) to be deaf (not hearing)

Etymology 2

From Proto-Polynesian *turi (compare with Māori turi), from Proto-Central Pacific *tur-i, from Proto-Oceanic *tur (compare with Fijian duru), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tuhud (compare with Malay tuhut and lutut, Tagalog tuhod), from Proto-Austronesian *tuduS.

Noun

kuli

1. (anatomy) knee

Derived terms

• kukuli

Hungarian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈkuli]
• Hyphenation: ku‧li
• Rhymes: -li

Noun

kuli (plural kulik)

1. coolie

Declension

Inflection (stem in long/high vowel, back harmony)

	singular	plural
nominative	kuli	kulik
accusative	kulit	kulikat
dative	kulinak	kuliknak
instrumental	kulival	kulikkal
causal-final	kuliért	kulikért
translative	kulivá	kulikká
terminative	kuliig	kulikig
essive-formal	kuliként	kulikként
essive-modal	—	—
inessive	kuliban	kulikban
superessive	kulin	kulikon
adessive	kulinál	kuliknál
illative	kuliba	kulikba
sublative	kulira	kulikra
allative	kulihoz	kulikhoz
elative	kuliból	kulikból
delative	kuliról	kulikról
ablative	kulitól	kuliktól
non-attributive possessive – singular	kulié	kuliké
non-attributive possessive – plural	kuliéi	kulikéi

Possessive forms of kuli

possessor	single possession	multiple possessions
1st person sing.	kulim	kulijaim (or kuliim)
2nd person sing.	kulid	kulijaid (or kuliid)
3rd person sing.	kulija	kulijai (or kulii)
1st person plural	kulink	kulijaink (or kuliink)
2nd person plural	kulitok	kulijaitok (or kuliitok)
3rd person plural	kulijuk	kulijaik (or kuliik)

Derived terms

• kulizik

Further reading

• (coolie): kuli in Géza Bárczi, László Országh, et al., editors, A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára [The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (ÉrtSz.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN.
• ([regional] inward-turning [horn or cattle with such horn]): kuli in Géza Bárczi, László Országh, et al., editors, A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára [The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (ÉrtSz.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN.

Indonesian

Alternative forms

• koeli (1901–1947)

Etymology

From Malay kuli, from Hindi क़ुली (qulī), from Chagatai قل (qul), ultimately from Proto-Turkic *kul (“slave, servant”).

Other forms occur in Bengali কুলি (kuli) and Tamil கூலி (kūli, “daily hire”), which are possibly also influenced by Hindi कोली (kolī, “weaver; low-class”). The Chinese word 苦力 (kǔlì), meaning "to exert one's abilities; heavy labour work" in Classical Chinese, may have been influenced by cognates of the above Hindi word in other languages and may have further influenced English.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈku.li]
• Hyphenation: ku‧li

Noun

kuli (plural kuli-kuli)

1. laborer; coolie

   Synonyms: pekerja kasar, buruh kasar

   • 2019 February 20, “Pernah Jadi Kuli Bangunan, Wisanggeni Kini Tekuni Melukis [Once a Construction Laborer, Wisangenni Now Draws Diligently]”, in Suara Merdeka‎^[3], archived from the original on 6 September 2019:

     Ia menambahkan pernah juga bekerja sebagai kuli bangunan, buruh pabrik di Solo, pernah juga bekerja di warung makan.

     He adds that he had once worked as a construction laborer, a factory worker at Solo, and had also worked at a food stall.

Derived terms

Affixed terms and other derivations

Regular affixed derivations:

• berkuli [stative / habitual] (beR-)
• menguli [agent focus] (meN-)
• kulian [resultative / locative / collective / variety / verbal noun / fruit] (-an)

Further reading

• “kuli”, in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia [Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016

Ingrian

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Russian куль (kulʹ). Doublet of kulja.

Pronunciation

• (Ala-Laukaa) IPA^(key): /ˈkuli/, [ˈkulʲiˑ]
• (Soikkola) IPA^(key): /ˈkuli/, [ˈkuliˑ]
• Rhymes: -uli
• Hyphenation: ku‧li

Noun

kuli

1. bast sack
2. a unit of dry volume equivalent to around 293 liters

Usage notes

• One kuli is equal to eight vakka.

Declension

Declension of kuli (type 5/vahti, no gradation, gemination)
	singular	plural
nominative	kuli	kulit
genitive	kulin	kulliin, kuliloin
partitive	kullia	kulija, kuliloja
illative	kullii	kullii, kuliloihe
inessive	kulis	kuliis, kulilois
elative	kulist	kuliist, kuliloist
allative	kulille	kuliille, kuliloille
adessive	kulil	kuliil, kuliloil
ablative	kulilt	kuliilt, kuliloilt
translative	kuliks	kuliiks, kuliloiks
essive	kulinna, kulliin	kuliinna, kuliloinna, kulliin, kuliloin
exessive1)	kulint	kuliint, kuliloint
1) obsolete *) the accusative corresponds with either the genitive (sg) or nominative (pl) **) the comitative is formed by adding the suffix -ka? or -kä? to the genitive.

Etymology 2

Related to Estonian kuli (“dude”); kuli was traditionally exclusively played by men and boys.

Pronunciation

• (Ala-Laukaa) IPA^(key): /ˈkuli/, [ˈkulʲiˑ]
• (Soikkola) IPA^(key): /ˈkuli/, [ˈkuliˑ]
• Rhymes: -uli
• Hyphenation: ku‧li

Noun

kuli

1. gorodki (a type of traditional game where wooden chips were hit with a stick)

Declension

Declension of kuli (type 5/vahti, no gradation, gemination)
	singular	plural
nominative	kuli	kulit
genitive	kulin	kulliin, kuliloin
partitive	kullia	kulija, kuliloja
illative	kullii	kullii, kuliloihe
inessive	kulis	kuliis, kulilois
elative	kulist	kuliist, kuliloist
allative	kulille	kuliille, kuliloille
adessive	kulil	kuliil, kuliloil
ablative	kulilt	kuliilt, kuliloilt
translative	kuliks	kuliiks, kuliloiks
essive	kulinna, kulliin	kuliinna, kuliloinna, kulliin, kuliloin
exessive1)	kulint	kuliint, kuliloint
1) obsolete *) the accusative corresponds with either the genitive (sg) or nominative (pl) **) the comitative is formed by adding the suffix -ka? or -kä? to the genitive.

Derived terms

• kulisavva

References

• Ruben E. Nirvi (1971), Inkeroismurteiden Sanakirja, Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura, page 216

Lindu

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kulit, from Proto-Austronesian *kuliC.

Noun

kuli

1. (anatomy) skin

Ngarrindjeri

Noun

kuli

1. head

Polish

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /ˈku.li/

• (Lesser Poland):
  • (Eastern Kraków) IPA^(key): [ˈku.li]
  • (Lasovia) IPA^(key): [ˈku.li]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uli
• Syllabification: ku‧li

Etymology 1

See gwoli.

Preposition

kuli

1. (Eastern Kraków, Gmina Stopnica, Góry Miechowskie, Lasovia, Tarnobrzeg County, Nisko County) alternative form of gwoli

   Cyli kuli wazności, cyli kuli winsowania... co Bóg... pédział - Rośnijta i napełniajta ziemie! (Lasovia, Tarnobrzeg County, Nisko County)

   So for the sake of importance, so for the sake of congratulating... what God... said - Grow and fill the earth!

   Darujta bliźniemu... kuli zbáwieniu dusnemu! (Lasovia, Tarnobrzeg County, Nisko County)

   Forgive your neighbor... for the salvation of your soul!

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

kuli

1. third-person singular present of kulić

Etymology 3

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

kuli

1. third-person plural virile past of kuć

Etymology 4

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Noun

kuli f

1. inflection of kula:
   1. genitive/dative/locative singular
   2. genitive plural

Further reading

• Jan Karłowicz (1901), “kuli”, in Słownik gwar polskich [Dictionary of Polish dialects] (in Polish), volume 2: F do K, Kraków: Akademia Umiejętności, page 152

Slovak

Etymology 1

Borrowed from English coolie, of Hindustani origin.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kuli/, [ˈkuli]
• Rhymes: -uli
• Hyphenation: ku‧li

Noun

kuli m pers

1. coolie

Declension

Declension of kuli
(pattern kuli)

	singular	plural
nominative	kuli	kuliovia
genitive	kuliho	kuliov
dative	kulimu	kuliom
accusative	kuliho	kuliov
locative	kulim	kulioch
instrumental	kulim	kuliami

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kuʎi/, (high register) [ˈkuʎi], (common) [ˈkuli]
• Rhymes: -uʎi
• Hyphenation: ku‧li

Noun

kuli f

1. dative/locative singular of kuľa

Further reading

• “kuli”, in Slovníkový portál Jazykovedného ústavu Ľ. Štúra SAV [Dictionary portal of the Ľ. Štúr Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Science] (in Slovak), https://slovnik.juls.savba.sk, 2003–2026

Sranan Tongo

Noun

kuli

1. (derogatory, offensive) coolie; an Indian-Surinamese person, a Surinamese person of Indian descent.
   • 1976, Suky Akkal, “Kapharia Ke Leb”, in The Tropical Mood:

     Gwe yu skôyer! Mi no e trow nanga no wan kuli

     Go away, you beggar! I'm not going to marry a coolie

Swahili

Etymology

Borrowed from English coolie.

Pronunciation

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Noun

kuli class V (plural makuli class VI)

1. coolie, dockworker

See also

• hamali
• mpakizi

Wolio

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kulit, from Proto-Austronesian *kuliC.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kuli/

Noun

kuli

1. skin

References

• Anceaux, Johannes C. 1987. Wolio Dictionary (Wolio-English-Indonesian) / Kamus Bahasa Wolio (Wolio-Inggeris-Indonesia). Dordrecht: Foris.